Fresno police sergeant arrested for attempted lewd acts with a minor, police said

Fresno police arrested one of the department’s own sergeants on Wednesday after he was accused of attempting lewd acts on a child.

Sgt. Paige McQuay, 56, was placed in custody in Fresno after Roseville Police Department said he was the subject of a sex crimes investigation, according to a news release.

He was accused of attempted lewd acts with a child and contacting a minor in an attempt to commit an offense, police said in a news release.

McQuay has worked with Fresno Police Department since 1993, according to the department. He was promoted to sergeant in April 2023.

Fresno Interim Chief Mindy Casto said Wednesday during a news conference she had limited details on the incident, but noted the penal code he was accused of violating was for a child under 14.

Police confirmed after the news conference McQuay was arrested as part of a sting involving an officer who was posing as a child.

He was placed on paid leave as the investigation is ongoing, police said.

Casto said her department will cooperate with Roseville Police Department, which will pursue the criminal investigation. Fresno police would simultaneously conduct an internal investigation.

She asked for the community’s support during a “painful” process.

“We have to let the process take its time, but again it’s painful,” Casto said on Wednesday. “We have so many officers out there doing the right thing and sacrificing for the community, and this is an embarrassment.”

McQuay worked in the northeast policing district, and supervised about 15 officers on a patrol unit, according to Casto.

Roseville police said late Wednesday that McQuay was arrested as part of a sweeping undercover investigation to catch adults attempting to meet minors for sex.

Details on the others caught in the operation were not immediately available, according to Lt. Chris Ciampa, a spokesperson with the Roseville Police Department.

Detectives posing as children used messaging apps to catch adults allegedly in the act, Roseville police said.

Ciampa also said McQuay will very likely be extradited to Placer County to face charges. But McQuay was not in Roseville when the alleged crime occurred.